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Thursday, 5th March
Especially during the National Year of Reading, we are proud to support World Book Day’s mission to make reading fun and accessible for all. Here is a look back on how we marked the occasion.
For a second year, Lydney Library was selected by World Book Day to serve as a community token exchange hub--one of a number across the country distributing over 400,000 books in areas with fewer opportunities to use their tokens. With the nearest bookshop over eight miles away, it was a privilege to offer the opportunity for children in and around Lydney to get free books easily and close to home.
-Lydney Exchange Hub: 1200 vouchers distributed
-Lydney Exchange Hub: 60 children from a local school attended a special author visit from Andy Seed
-County-wide: 169 World Book Day costumes were swapped
Across the event, 1200 vouchers were distributed from Lydney Library. Children would browse the selection of World Book Day titles, choose a book that excited them, then ‘purchase’ the book from the friendly library team using their token. This simple exchange creates a powerful moment for young readers, giving them the freedom to choose and the pride of ownership.
World Book Day also funded a special event for the library on Monday, 9th March. 60 children from Reception and Year 5 visited the library to enjoy a visit from award-winning author Andy Seed. His enthusiasm for reading inspired attendees.
These successes would not have been possible without the team at Lydney Library, who embraced the exchange hub and helped local children discover joy in reading.
Costume swaps have been a fixture in county libraries for both Hallowe’en and World Book Day. This year, 169 costumes were exchanged, helping families save money while reducing textile waste.
As we continue working to widen access to reading and support local families, we hope the excitement shared by World Book Day participants of all ages will linger long after the day itself.
